The Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa are pleased to announce the launch of an action plan to fulfill their commitment to the Laudato Si' Action Platform.  The plan includes an ambitious schedule of events, programs, and advocacy efforts to care for one another and the Earth, as inspired by the landmark 2015 encyclical from Pope Francis - Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home.  The Franciscan Peace Center will be instrumental in carrying out many of the objectives of the plan, which is available at www.ClintonFranciscans.com/our-mission/laudato-si-action-platform.

Sister Jan Cebula, President of the Sisters of St. Francis explains, “Our mission of living and promoting active nonviolence and peacemaking is essential to bringing about the future envisioned in Laudato Si'.  Understanding that all life is interdependent -- what affects one, affects us all – is what guides us in working toward the protection and healing of the earth and all of Creation.”  The action plan that the Clinton Franciscans have created initially covers three focus areas: a response to the cry of the Earth, a response to the cry of the poor, and ecological spirituality.  

The commitment, released last fall, was made in response to an appeal to join with Catholics across the globe to work collaboratively toward building a better world for generations to come.  The Laudato Si' Action Platform movement involves seven diverse sectors:  families, parishes and dioceses, educational institutions, healthcare institutions, organizations and groups, the economic sector, and religious orders. Each sector is being asked to embark on the seven-year plan to live out the calling of Laudato Si'.

The Clinton Franciscans have previously taken corporate public stands on several issues that are interrelated to these goals: death penalty, nuclear abolition, human trafficking, income inequality, human rights, immigration reform, and care of Creation.  Each of these is being addressed with the new action plan.

The release of the plan coincides with Laudato Si' Week, May 22-29 – a global commemoration of the seventh anniversary of the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical.   Throughout the week, the Clinton Franciscans will be sharing a series of daily reflections from Sisters and Associates on Laudato Si' Action Plan objectives.  

Jennifer Kryszak, Director of Strategic Planning for the Franciscan Peace Center, says, “The reflections are intended to illuminate the journey as we continue to grow in our personal and communal conversion to an integral ecology that values each aspect of God’s created world.” The reflections will be posted daily at https://clintonfranciscans.com/laudato-si-week-2022-reflections.

More information about the global Laudato Si' Action Platform movement is available at:  https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/